Hate Crimes In NYC Are Up 76% Between January And April 2022 Compared To The First Quarter Of Last Year

According to CNN, the report from the Hate Crimes Task Force of the New York Police Department shows an increase in hate crimes in New York City by 76% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to the first quarter of last year. The report shows that in the first quarter of 2021, there were 110 hate crimes, whereas, in the first quarter of 2022, there were 194 hate crimes. These include the case of the man who was indicted after attacking seven Asian women. There is also the case of the Brooklyn teen who assaulted a 15-year-old transgender girl and the case of the 19-year-old who attacked Sikh men in Queens.

According to CNN, the report released by the HCTF shows that crimes against Jewish people increased from 28 crimes in the first quarter of 2021, to 86 crimes between that same period this year.

When it comes to crimes against Black people in New York City, the number of targeted incidents doubled. In the first quarter of  2022, there were 26 targeted incidents, whereas, during that same period last year, there were 13 incidents.

Lastly, according to CNN, the report shows that sexual orientation crimes increased by 12, whereas hate crimes against Asians reduced by 32% compared to 2021. In the first quarter of 2021, 47 crimes against Asians were recorded, whereas this year, within that same period, 32 incidents were reported.

The report from the Hate Crimes Task Force of the New York Police Department was released at a time when New York City is experiencing an increase in violent crime incidents and Mayor Eric Adams is rolling out his plan to combat crime and violence in the city. The Mayor’s plan also addresses homelessness, particularly in the subway system.

What Is a Hate Crime?

According to New York Penal Law 485.05, an individual is liable for a hate crime when they commit a specific offense and;

• intentionally select the individual against whom to commit the offense because of a perception or belief regarding the color, race, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or religious practice of an individual, regardless of whether the perception is correct, or
• intentionally commit the act(s) constituting the offense because of a perception or belief regarding the color, race, gender, national origin, ancestry, religion, religious practice, disability, age, or sexual orientation of an individual, regardless of whether the perception or belief is correct.

Being charged with a hate crime in New York is a serious thing. If you are charged with a hate crime, you could be punished for the underlying offense and face additional penalties because the prosecutor believes your actions were motivated by prejudice. Therefore, if you’re facing hate crime charges, ensure you reach out to a defense attorney who can help you fight your charges.

If You Are Currently Under Investigation Because of Allegations of a Hate Crime, You Need a Skilled Criminal Defense Attorney To Help You Fight Your Charges

If you are facing hate crime charges in New York, contact the skilled NYC criminal defense attorney, Mark I. Cohen, Esq., at 212-732-0002 to receive help with your case.

Resources:

nycourts.gov/judges/cji/2-PenalLaw/485/485-05.pdf

edition.cnn.com/2022/04/16/us/hate-crimes-rise-in-new-york-city/index.html